Essential, Andy Rubin’s phone company, is shutting down

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Essential is shutting down less than three years after the startup unveiled its first smartphone. The company’s one and only product, the Essential Phone, sold poorly and received mixed reviews. A follow-up phone was canceled, and a number of other promised devices — like a smart home assistant and operating system — never materialized.
The startup was founded by Android creator Andy Rubin. While that initially drew hype and investment, it qui